Within 180 days, 42 medical cannabis users and 107 control participants developed arrhythmia, most commonly atrial fibrillation/flutter. Medical cannabis users had a slightly elevated risk for new-onset arrhythmia compared with nonusers (180-day absolute risk, 0.8% vs 0.4%). The 180-day risk ratio with cannabis use was 2.07 (95% CI, 1.34-2.80), and the 1-year risk ratio was 1.36 (95% CI, 1.00-1.73). Adults with cancer or cardiometabolic disease had the highest risk for arrhythmia with cannabis use (180-day absolute risk difference, 1.1% and 0.8%).

Medical Cannabis for Chronic Pain Tied to Arrhythmia Risk – Medscape – January 12, 2024 — https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/medical-cannabis-chronic-pain-tied-arrhythmia-risk

The overall incidence of stroke and ischemic stroke (IS) decreased among both White and Black people over the past two decades, results of an updated analysis of stroke trends in a representative US population showed.

However, the study showed persistent racial disparities, with incident stroke rates 50%-80% higher in Black people than in their White counterparts. Incident stroke also occurred at an earlier age in Black patients than in White patients (mean age, 62 years vs 71 years, respectively).

The findings were published online on January 10, 2024, in Neurology.

New Data on Stroke Incidence Rates by Race – Medscape – January 12, 2024 — https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/new-data-stroke-incidence-rates-race

And my favorite Saturday morning medical update…

But studies also have shown that once people stop taking these drugs — either by choice, because of shortage, or lack of access — they regain most, if not all, the weight they lost. Arguably more frustrating is the fact that those who continue on the drug eventually reach a plateau, at which point, the body seemingly stubbornly refuses to lose more weight. Essentially, it stabilizes at its set point, said Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, MBA, an obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Every study of weight loss drugs done over the past 40 years or so shows a plateau, Stanford told Medscape Medical News. “If you look at the phentermine/topiramate studies, there’s a plateau. If you look at the bupropion/naltrexone studies, there’s a plateau. Or if we look at bariatric surgery, there’s a plateau. And it’s the same for the newer GLP-1 drugs.”

The reason? “It really depends on where the body gets to,” Stanford said. “The body knows what it needs to do to maintain itself, and the brain knows where it’s supposed to be. And when you lose weight and reach what you feel is a lower set point, the body resists.”When the body goes below its set point, the hunger hormone ghrelin, which is housed in the brain, gets reactivated and gradually starts to reemerge, she explained. GLP-1, which is housed in the distal portion of the small intestine and in the colon, also starts to reemerge over time.

Why Do GLP-1 Drugs Stop Working, and What to Do About It? – Medscape – January 12, 2024 — https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/why-do-glp-1-drugs-stop-working-and-what-do-about-it

That’s it for this Saturday. Time to go to the Y and read a book later.